This week's product roundup features no fewer than three major AI-related functionalities. We'll start with the race for market leadership in the United States...
US-based Zillow, perhaps the biggest real estate portal in the world, has acquired Virtual Staging AI for an undisclosed amount.
Virtual Staging AI (VSAI) helps home sellers, agents, and photographers create digitally staged listing images without the need for physical furniture and decor. Zillow claims that VSAI's virtual staging technology "generates listing photos that are nearly indistinguishable from traditionally staged listings."
Real estate professionals can easily upload room photos, select a room type and furniture style, and create high-quality, fully staged images in seconds.
VSAI is already undergoing integration into Zillow's Showcase product.
According to Zillow's 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report, research showed that 71% of sellers say they’re more likely to hire an agent who includes virtual tours and/or interactive floor plans in their services.
Online Marketplaces has reached out to Zillow for a quote.
Matterport, the digital twin technology specialist, has added both a "defurnish" and a Generative AI listings writer to accompany listings.
The defurnish feature allows users to empty spaces of unwanted furniture and clutter, turning rooms into empty spaces that are easier for browsers to visualise from a more neutral perspective.
Meanwhile, Matterport says the GenAI descriptions are "beautifully written but also accurate down to the last detail," interrogating images and spatial data to enhance the value of property listings.
Other additions include "field tags” that let contractors post notes on specific property features and a "merge" tool that lets customers piece together multiple images to create immersive 3D images of entire properties.
RJ Pittman, CEO at Matterport, said:
"These tools save time, elevate listings and simplify complex workflows for everyone—from real estate agents to contractors and enterprise teams."
Matterport is currently under offer for a $1.6 billion buyout by CoStar Group, subject to regulatory processes.
Japan-based real estate marketplace AtHome.co.jp says it secured a patent for its AI home staging product this August.
The staging product, developed by AtHome Lab, uses GenAI image generator Stable Diffusion to create both unfurnished and refurnished images depending on user needs.
AtHome says the unique proposition for its now-patented product is that the images generated by Stable Diffusion retain the integrity of floorplans and furniture placement, an ongoing issue for images created by GenAI.
Sho Hattori, a representative for AtHome.jp, commented:
"In the early days of image generation AI, it was difficult to build the environment and deal with errors, but new technologies appeared, and ideas that could be applied to AI home staging spread.
"Image generation AI is expected to continue to develop in the future, and we would like to further evolve and improve AI home staging based on our patented technology."
Zimmo, Belgium's second-largest real estate platform has teamed up with real estate data and software company StadimDatato launch a new estimation tool that will be available only to real estate professionals.
The new tool features a pioneering AI estimation and reliable analytical estimation. Both were based on millions of homes, with data from more than seven different sources. Banks and insurance companies will also be able to consult the tool.
Yves Venderveken, Business Director at Zimmo, said:
"The valuation methods on which the tool is based are also used by the experts from the specialized valuation agency Stadim. This increases the efficiency, reliability, and justification of property pricing.
"All of this makes the tool the most accurate on the market, usable not only by real estate agents but by any real estate professional. Notaries and project developers can also benefit from it. Our smart AI estimation is groundbreaking, thanks in part to the expertise of StadimData, and is perfectly complemented by reliable analytical valuation and the most relevant references.
"Furthermore, our valuation tool can estimate all types of residential real estate, and it can do so without limitations. We are extremely proud of this collaboration. Together, we are bringing a tool to the market that is stronger and more reliable than ever."
Avito, Russia's largest classifieds marketplace has added VB Bank—Russia's second-largest bank—to its suite of user ID verification options, which already includes Sberbank (the biggest national bank), T-Bank and Alfa Bank.
Avito says
Vladimir Antonov, head of verification at Avito, said:
"Verification via bank IDs is one of the fastest options for profile confirmation, taking only a few minutes, perhaps that is why this method is most popular among private sellers—40% of users prefer it.
"It is important for us that users have access to the widest possible pool of tools for verifying the authenticity of a profile, and connecting VTB ID has become a logical step that will help simplify verification for many sellers on Avito."
According to Avito, 20% of sellers reported an increase in buyer enquiries once they acquired an ID verification tag.
Vacation home rentals specialist Landfolk has launched 'Daisy', a natural language search tool which appears to be in beta testing.
According to a blog on Landfolk's website:
With Daisy, users can search for any emotion, vibe or dream — whether it's "cozy cabin by the lake" or "seaside escape with sunset views" — and immediately explore a stunning array of photos that match their vision. Each photo is tied to a bookable holiday home.
However, there's still some way to go before users can include specific dates, amenities or locations in their search query.
Chris Soerensen, co-founder and CTO at Landfolk, said:
"Daisy represents our first steps into a new world where AI and Machine Learning transform how users discover and book their perfect holiday home. By using advanced models that can compare and understand both images and text, we’re offering people a completely new way to search based on emotions, moods, and creative ideas.
"In the long term, we plan to layer in factual search capabilities by integrating with our product data. But for now, we’re launching Daisy to see how people use it, and to understand where it fits in their journey of finding a holiday home."
Online Marketplaces recently interviewed Landfolk CEO Christian Schwarz Lausten, you can read it for free here.
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